Mayawati announces opening of Gautam Buddha University

Greater Noida, Aug 23 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today inaugurated the Gautam Buddha University and said it will start a new chapter in the field of higher education in the state.

''The university would provide opportunity to the Dalits and those below the poverty line in general category to avail world-class education,'' she said while announcing the inaugural session and dedicating the administrative building of the university to people.

She said fifty per cent students of the university who are from the scheduled castes or from backward castes and minority would get chance to study in foreign institutes and its total cost would be borne by the state government.

The university, established by the UP Act(9) as passed by the UP assembly, is modeled in line with some of the best institutions of higher learning around the world and would run professional as well as other vocational courses.

She also announced the plan of opening an institute in Lucknow at par with the IITs and an institute in Greater Noida in pattern of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.